Beehive



T. K. MASSIE.

BE'EHlVE.'

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 25. 191B.

. Patented May 30, 1922.

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WITNESSES 10 'ass ATTORNEYS T. K. MASSIE.

BEEHIVE.

APPLICATION FILED N0v,2s, 191s.

Patented May30,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WITNESSES dabaww T. K. MASSIE.

BEEHlVE. v APPLICATION FILED NOV- 25, 1918;

Patented May 30,1922;

4 sums-shin 3.

OPEN FRONT ,FLRONT Y CLOSED 7 WIT/v58 Hassle. a 7 Ana/Mrs THOMAS KELLEY MEASSIE, 0 HATCHER, WEST VIRGINIA.

BEEHIVE;

T0 alleohom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS KELLEY- Mas- SIE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, anda resident of Hatcher, in the county ofiMercer and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beehives, of whichthe following is aispecifi cation.

My invention relates to improvements in beehives, and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of'my invention is to provide a beehive which is so arrangedi that it may either be thoroughly ventilated to keep the interior cool in summer time, or that a dead air space may be formed next to the'walls on the inside to serve as insulationand pro tect the bees in the winter time. I

Another object of the invention isto provide a beehive including a bottom-board of such structural design that when it is placed in a level position on'a hive-stand or. other foundation, will keep the hive perfectly level to the end that perlect combs will be built by the bees; the bottom-board includ-' ing a sloping floor which tends to drain moisture to the front.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a beehive which is constructed and arranged in such a manner. 'thatrthebees are,

prevented from gluing the ends of the brood-"frames together.

A further'objeot o'l theinvention is-to provide a reversible closed-end brood-frame adapted to hang in position and arrangedto prevent overturning when stood in position alone. p

A further object of the invention is to provide a section holder constructedin such a manner as to prevent the bees from reaching the edges of the sections and covering them with beeswax and propolis, thereby producing clean section boxes when removed from the holders, in readiness for transportation to the market. I

Other objects and advantages. will appearin the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the beehive arranged for summer use,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Flay, 30, 1922j Application filed'November 25, 1918; Serial nm zeeosa Figure 2 is aperSpec-tiveview of-thebot tom board,

Figure 3 is aperspective view of one of the inside wallsor followers,

Figure4 is a perspectiveview of the re-' verslble and removable rear end piece,

Figure 5 is a vertioal'sectionot the beehive taken on the line 5%5'of Figure-1 and showing the arrangement: for summer use,

Figure 6 is a'detail sectionon'the line66 of Figure 5 show-ing'the adjacent follower dropped down. inside otj'the side rail for ventilation: in summer use, a

Figure? is a-l'horizontal'section onithe line 7+7 of Figure'5, I I

Figure 8' 's detail sectionon the line 8-8 of Figure 9 showing the arrangement ofi the hive for winter use,

F lgure 9'1s-ahor1zontal section on the line 99 ot-Figure 8-, v

Figure 10 isa'sectionionitheline1010 of Figure 5', ing tor summer use, igure'll is a horizontal section. on the line 11.l1'of- Figure 5, Y

F'gures ,12' and l8. a*re' detail sectional views showing how the-section boxes are automatically clamped in'place'in the section holders by means-of: the end locks-fandtop channels, i Figure 14 is a detail section illustrating a portion of the section holder support,

Figure 15 is anenlarged section showing a portion of the super-in F igure 5,

Figure 16 is a detail perspective view, of one of. the section holders, Figure 17 is a detail perspectivefiview, showing aslight modification in, the end lock, i

chambers B, one or more supers or honey,

the arrangement of the hive-be- F igure-lSisa-perspecti've view of one of The botto'm-boa'rd.

The bottom-board A comprises the sloping floor 1 which slopes from the rear to the front'of the hive so as to drain the hive of all moisture and assist the bees in removing obstacles which may happen to get into the hive. The sloping floor 1 is fixed between the side rails 2 which in turn are secured on a base board 3. Cleats & are fixed on the outside of the siderails 2 and flush with the top surfaces. These cleats provide hand-holds which enable the grasping of the bottomboards more readily or which enable the entire hive to be lifted when it is desired to move the hive about.

Seats 5 are cut into the side rails 2 near the front and rear extremities. These seats 5 receive the followers of the lower broodchamber when the hive isarranged for summer use. An entrance block 6 is placed across the front of the bottom-board A in the space between the side rails 2 as shown in Figure 2.

A perforated metallic plate 7 spans the space between portions of the entrance block. The perforations of the plate 7 are elongated and are formed in this shape so that only the worker bees may gain entrance to the hive. The entrance block 6 has four functions, namely: it is an entrance contractor, a queen and drone guard, it forms a closure of the space between the side rails and the front, and permits ventilation of the hive.

A removable and reversible rear end piece 8 occupies the space between the side rails 2 beyond the fioor 1 at the rear. The rear end piece has a number of bosses between which screen sections 9 are stretched. In the summer time, the rear end piece is turned up in the position illustrated in Figure 2 so that air may enter the hive from the rear through the screen section. For summer use, the front entrance block 6 is removed. In the winter time, the rear end piece is turned over into the position illustrated in Figure 8. In order that the space at the back of the hive may be fully closed by means of the rear end piece 8, grooves 10 are formed in the bosses to receive the rear edge of'the floor 1 and form a tight closure.

When the rear end piece 8 is turned over for winter use as just described, the screen sections 9 come adjacent to the rear edge of the floor 1 but the open space between the bosses communicates with the space beneath the floor and not with the interior of the hive, as illustrated in Figure 6. The rear end piece 8 has two functions, namely; it

closes the space under the hive and between the side rails at the rear, when the hive is arranged for winter use, andby reversing the rear end piece, it enables ventilation of the hive from the rear, thereby giving'the bees the fresh air without compelling them to seek it at the entrance by laying out" and idling their time away in extremely hotweather.

The broad chamber.

The brood-chambers B illustrated in the drawing rest one on top of the other and both brood-chambers are supported on the side rails and cleats'of the bottonrboard A. In this connection it is to be observed that when the bottom-board A is placed on a level foundation, the rest of the beehive structure will be perfectly level in every respect to the important end that perfect combs are built by the bees. A plurality of brood-frames 11 are supported in a hanging position inside of each of the brood-chambers B. Forthis purpose, a pair of cleats 12 is nailed to the front and rear inside walls of the broodchamber, upon which the reversible hooks 13 are supported. It is to be observed that the hooks 13 are first bent outwardly at right angles and then back again at Thus each hook is braced at the supporting points of the brood-frame.

Each hook '13 is pivoted in one of the heads of the brood-frame on the horizontal axis and has a driving point 14 which may be driven into the head either acent to the broad top-bar 15 or the narrow bottombar 16. Thus it will be observed that by driving the driving point 14 into either of the two positions, the hanging brood-frame 11 is capable of reversal so that either of the bars just mentioned may accordingly come to the top. The narrow-bottom bars 16 best shown in Figure 5, are intended for a specific purpose.

The narrow bottom-bars incite the bees to build their combs down to and over the bar and the arrangement obtained by the construction just recited, reduces the hori-' zontal opening or space between adjacent top and bottom-bars to a considerably less dimension than it has heretofore been able to obtain; These spaces or horizontal openings are made through the solid combs for convenience in handling the different divisions of the hive. V A closure strip 17 is placed across the ends of the brood frame 11 on the-top and between the upper and lower brood chambers B as shown in Figure 10. These closure strips have depending pins 18 which enter the space between the heads of the brood-frames and the adjacent walls and keep the closure strips in position. These closure strips connect the inside walls formed by the ends of the brood-frames 11 and the followers 19, and prevent the bees fromv gluing the frames together. at the ends. The underlying purpose of. the construction described thus far is, to provide'a perpendicularly connected inside wall. all: around on the inside of the bcehive.

Thercisone of: the followers l9'at each.

side 'of the entire bodyof; brood-frames 11. The follower 19hascleats20 at the ends,.as shown in Figure 8. Springs 21' are secured at one end'in the-cleats and-the springs are intended to press the; followers tightly against the adjacentwonesof the broodframes 11 in order to keepall of the broodframes in tight engagement as clearly shown The super.

The super C consists of. a rectangular frame a little more than half the height of the brood-chambers B. Ledges 25 on the front and rear walls of the super and onthe inside very near to the bottom, support a plurality of section holders. Each of the section holders include end-bars 26 which are connected at the top and bottom b channels 27 and 28 respectively.

The top channel 27 is simply a U-shaped metallic member which when fitted in place, extends-down beyond the edges of the sections 29. The top channel is held in place by end locks 30 which automatically disengage the top channel 27v when thesection holder F is pulled out of the super. This action is well illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. The spring-like nature of the end lock 30 of course causes it to move outwardly sothat the top channel 27 is disengaged when the section is pulled out as just explained.

At the same time, when the section is replaced. in, the super, theaction of. the edge of'the, super o-nthe end lock 3O causes'the hook end of thelock to move overthe top channel and lock it in place.

A somewhat different structure follows in the case of the lower channel 28. This channel is also substantially U-shape, but the side flanges which protect the edges of the sections 29'are, bent upfrom the body of the channeland then downwardly. so as to produce relatively deep aprons 31.

ure 5, extend down a considerabledistance into proximity with the top-bars 15 of the These. aprons, it will be observed especially in Figtain extent: and yet: leaves apassage between the section holders, permitting the bees. to reach the sections- The ends of:tl1e.aprons 31 arecut. away at. 32 so as to receive the ledges.25.

It isa' very, important consideration in the present 1 construction that the. section] holders are: brought closer to the brood? frames than;it has heretofore beencnabled to obtain.

section-holder is, that the'edgesof the sections 29. are protected throughout, thus? enabling the" production of absolutely clean sectionsin readiness for the market. often. occurs that where the edges of the Probably the most important consideration in 1 the present; constructlon of" sections are not protected, muchtimemust be spent inscraping the edges in orderto give them the necessary clean appearance tomake the. sections salable. Separators are located between the various sectionihold ers. These separators are of: an ordinary construction and. include. the slats and end pieces that .holdithe slats together, as shown in FigurelS; The upper portions ofthe end piecesare'cut awayat 34 to accommodate the flangesof the upper and lower channel members 27 and28.

In order to sustain the weight of the honey in the sections: and to prevent the bot tom channel 28 from. sagging, hook s 35 .which reach from the upper to the lower channelare provided." One of the hooks will ordinarlly be sufficient to support the lower channel, butobviously one hook on each side may be used to better advantage as illustra-tedin Figure 15'. These hooks are loosely fitted in the'bottom channel and the lower hooked end'is simply slippedinto a suitablev holeinthe flange of the top channel. YVithreference to the end locks previousl.y described, this construction is capable of modification as illustrated in- Figure 17. Here the end lock 30 isintegral with thetop channel 27 and simply slips over a stud 36 which-holdsthe'top chan'nelin place;

Arrangement forsummer use.

When the hive is thusarranged, the various parts appear" with respect: to the front andback 0fthe hive as-illustrate'd'in Figures-l, 5.,- 6and7. Here it-w-ill be observed at once that the followers 19 or the inside walls of the brood-chambers M are dropped down inside ofthe side rails 2. This feature of coacting or cooperative 'membering of hive-units is" a new andnovel one never before used in hive construction. At this time,

the stops 24 rest on the side rails beyond the seats 5 as clearly shown in Figure B reason of. the sloping position of the bottom 1 the rear lower edge of the bottom side walls contact the bottom, but since thejside walls rest on the side rails as just explained;

there is an increasing air space toward the front as clearly shown in Figure 6.

The rear end gate is reversed so that there is air communication with the space E completely around the hive. Air may enter at the front and rear and pass up the space E on all sides. This provides continuous ventilation which keeps the inside of the hive cool and avoids the necessity on the part of the bees of seeking the entrance of the hive in order to obtain fresh and cool air. This has the important advantage of preventing the bees from laying out and idling their time away. In winter time a closed telescope cover is put on top of the super-cover In this telescope cover, which however is not illustrated in the drawings, a cushion of absorbent material is fastened so that it does not become an eX- tra loose part to be handled. This cushion prevents the radiation of the bee-heat. Even after the side walls. 19 are dropped down inside of the side rails 2 as just explained, they remain connected intermediately as clearly shown in Figure 5. The space E thus remains continuous until the proximity of the upper edge of the topbrood-chamber is reached. The closure strips 17 prevent the bees from reaching the ends of the brood-frames and gluing them together.

Awamgememf for winter use.

' The beehive is now turned around 90 with respect to the bottom-board B. Where come very close to the adjacent edges of the members 6 and 8. The space E is completely closed at the back and is so nearly com pletely closed at the front that but little air can enter the space from this side. When the closed top just spoken of is placed on top offlthe upper brood-chamber, the air space E will be practically dead and offer an effective insulation that prevents the heat from the inside of the hive from escaping through the walls.-

The brood-frame 11 I embodies a novel construction as illustrated in Figure 19. The top rail 15 hereinbefore generally referred to is made in two parts;

the fixed part 15 and the movable part 15 The part 15 is separable to enable the ready placing of the comb foundation in the top rail. The member 15 is secured in place by means of double-pointed tacks and the two parts are clamped together at the middle by a wire clamp of any suitable type. Modifications and changes in the manner of using the double-pointed tacks or staples may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or-the scope of the claims.

Ordinarily the comb foundation is put in place by means of a wedge which is driven against the comb foundation in saw kerfs inp This wedge is susceptlble to shrinkage and there the under surface of the top rail.

by permits the loosening of the comb foundation. The construction just described and illustrated in Figure 19 positively prevents the looseningof the comb foundation since it is held in place by the clamping action of the device just described.

While the construction. and arrangement of the beehive asv herein described and claimed is that of a generally preferred form obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of the claims.

I claim z- I 1. A beeh'ivecomprising a relatively fixed bottomboard, a sectional body includinga brood-chamber and super arranged to be placed on the bottom-board in either of two positions andmeans located inside of the brood-chamber arranged to coact with a portion of the bottom-board to provide a dead air space when the body rests in one position on the bottom-board, and to enable the ventilation of the hive when the body is placed in the other position on the bottom-board.

2. The combination in a beehive, of a bottom-board, side rails on the-bottom-board,

a brood-chamber containing a plurality of hanging brood-frames and arranged to be set on the bottom-board. in either of two positions with the brood-frames parallel to or disposed transversely to the side rails, and means at the sides of the plurality of brood-frames adapted to occupy a position in spaced relationship'to the side rails when the brood-frames are parallel thereto and provide a Ventilating space.

3. The combination in a beehive; of a-bottom-board including side rails, a broodchamber arranged to beset on the bottomboard in either of twopositions, a row of brood-frames supported in the brood-chamber, said brood-frames having heads engaging one another and providing a space at the front and rear. followers at the sides of the row of brood-frames'in spaced relationship with the adjacent walls of the brood-cham- 7 her and arranged to be dropped inside of the side rails when the brood-chamber is placed on the bottom-board with the broodframes parallel to the side rails,to provide a space between said followers and side'rails for ventilation, a screened rear end piece admitting air to the space at the front.

4. The combination ina beehive, of a bottom-boardincluding side rails, a broodchamber arranged tobe set on the'bottomboard in "either of two positions, a row of brood-frames supported in the brood-chamher, said brood-frames havlng heads engaging one anotheriand providing a space at the front and rear, followers at the sides of the row of brood-frames 111 spaced relationship with the adjacent walls of'the'brood-chamber'and arranged to'be dropped inside ofthe side rails when the'brood-chamber is placed on 'the bottom-board withthe brood-frames p'arallelto the side rails,to provide a space between said followers and side rails for ventilation, a screened frear'end piece c011- nectingthe side rails and admitting air to the space atthe rear, and an entrance block connecting the side rails at the front admitting air to the space at the front, said rear end'piece being reversible to enable the closure of the space between the followers and adjacent walls of the brood-chamber when -'the brood-chamber is placed on the bottom-board with the brood-frames arranged transversely with respect to the side rails and the'followers in contact with said rear end piece and entrance block.

5. In "a beehive, a bottom-board including side rails, cleats attached to the side rails enabling the grasping of the bottom-board and providing a broader brood-chamber supporting surface, a floor fixed between the side rails and inclined fromthe rear to the front to drain the hive of moisture, and a reversible rear end piece connecting the side rails at the back and having slots arranged to fit over the rear edge of the floor when the rear end piece occupies one position.

6. In a beehive, a bottomboard including side rails having notches providing seats near the front and rear of the hive, a sloping floor fixed between the side rails, an entrance block arranged to connect the side rail-s at the front, a reversible rear end piece arranged to connect the side rails at the rear and having grooves fitting over the rear edge of the floor, a brood-chamber arranged to be set upon the side rails'and the rear end piece and front entrance block, a plurality of hanging brood frames in the brood-chamber having heads forming a pair of walls in spaced relationship to the adjacent Walls of the brood-chamber, and inside walls closing the sides of the brood-frames and adapted to occupy the seats in the side rails when the brood frames are disposed transversely of the side rails,

I 7. The combination in abeehive, of side a rails having notches providing seats, a brood-frame arranged to be set on 'the side rails and having a pair of followers forming inside walls, cleats strengthening I the verti- 'cal' ends of the followers and'having beveled portions at the bottom, said follower-s being arranged who dropped down inside of-the side rails to provide P spaces for ventilation when "the followers are "arranged parallel to the side rails, and lugs carried b thefollowers adj acent' to the beveled portion arranged,

to reach across said cleats and rest'on the side'rails. i v t 8. Inn 9 beehive,- a pair of brood-chambers arranged to be set one upon the other, a plurality of brood-frames of a lesser height 'thansaid brood-chambersequalto an exact bee-space, means enabling the hangingyof the broodeframes in said chamber-s, and closure strips arranged to belai'd transversely of the brood-fram'esbetween the pair of. chambers to connect the brood-frames and prevent the bees from ,gluingthe' ends. 9. In a beehive,"'a brood-chamber having supporting cleats; on opposite walls and near the top, a'brood frame arranged to be supported on said cleats and includin-g hfe'ads, a hook 'in'cluding a shank 'pivo'ted in the middle of'eac'h'of the headsfand a driving point formed on'theshank beyond the hook enabling the disposition of thehook in either of two positions and the consequent reversal of the brood-frames, I

10. The combination in-a beehive, of abrood-chamber containing a plurality of hanging brood-"frames each having =-a t0p= bar, a super resting on the brood-chamber and having ledges close to the bottom edge, and section holding means including a bot; tom channel having flanges extending close to the adjacent top-bars of the brood-frame.

11. In a beehive, a super having a pair of supporting ledges, a plurality of section holders arranged to rest on the ledges, and means included inthe section holders enabling the simultaneous release of the sections with the withdrawal of said section holders from the super. i r

12. In a beehive, a super, a pair of ledges, section holders including end bars, a bottom channel connecting the end bars including relatively deep flanges and a U-shapedxpon tion, said flanges having cut-away ends to rest on the ledges, a removable top channel, the flanges of both channels being adapted to cover portions of the sections. held in the.

holder to keep the edges clean, means proj ing on the supporting ledges and including top and bottom channels arranged to protect the edges of honey sections, and separators between the section holders including end cleats having cut-away portions to accommodate the flanges of said top and bottom channels.

14. In a beehive, a brood-frame consisting of end members, a top rail portion fixed in place between said end members, a separable top rail portion arranged to be clamped against said fixed rail portion to hold a comb foundation in position, and securing means for holding the two rail portions together.

15. A beehive, including a bottom board having side rails with end notches, and a brood chamber with. pendent brood frames having side closure partitions occupying the notches inside of said rails to provide air passages when the brood chamber is in one position on the side rails.

16. A beehive, including a bottom board having side rails with end notches, a brood chamber with pendent brood frames having side closure partitions occupying the notches inside of said rails to provide air passages when the brood chamber is in one position on the side rails, and closure strips extending between the side rails, supporting said partitions to close the air passages and provide a dead air space, when the brood chamber is turned ninety degrees in respect to the bottom board.

17. A beehive, including a bottom board with side rails and end closure strips, and a plurality of brood chambers, each with a pendent brood frame having contacting heads spaced from adjacent chamber walls,

and side closure partitions, those of the lowermost brood chamber resting on the closure strips and engaglng the partltions of the chamber above, to make continuous Walls 19. A beehive, comprising a brood chamher, a plurality of brood frames with mutually contacting heads spacedly supported from adjacent chamber walls, having followers spaced from the other chamber walls and closing the brood frame sides, the fore going providing a continuous inside .wall with a surrounding air space, and a bottom board on which the brood chamberis set, arranged to permit the followers to be dropped down and break the continuity of said inside wall and the completeness of said air space for ventilation.

20. A beehive, comprising a plurality of brood frames with mutually contacting heads forming complete end walls, with followers closing the open sides, all being glued together by the bees in the operation of the hive; and a brood chamber in which the foregoing structure is supported, capable of being lifted off without disturbing said structure or the bees contained therein.

THOMAS KELLEY MASSIE. 

